The latest edition of UEFA's official publication, uefadirect, includes the article which tells the readers about Valeriy Lobanovskyy Youth Academy (also known as Nyvky Dynamo Kyiv Youth Academy). We offer you to read the original text of the article, written by Pascale Pierard and published in uefadirect issue No 76 - August 2008.
Youth training in Kiev
The Valery Lobanovskiy Academy
HE REMAINED IMPASSIVE NO MATTER WHAT. HIS COOL FACE NEVER ONCE GAVE ANY SIGN OF EMOTION REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE MATCH. VALERY LOBANOVSKIY, WHO PASSED AWAY IN MAY 2002, HAS BECOME A FOOTBALLING LEGEND.
It was during the 1970s that the famous Ukrainian coach developed his revolutionary tactics, fielding a team without a sweeper and with two rows of four instead. His team was compact, reliant on its collective strength albeit with some sparks of brilliance from a few star players. Lobanovskiy took a scientific approach to football. Under his leadership, Dynamo Kyiv broke the mould of the Russian clubs and won numerous titles and cups in the USSR. The team also proved itself on the European scene, taking the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup trophy in 1975 and 1986, and the UEFA Super Cup in 1975. Lobanovskiy, the "master", led Dynamo Kyiv over 17 seasons from 1974, and in his time produced stars such as Belanov, Blokhin and Shevchenko. The Ukrainian club's success turned against him after the fall of the Iron Curtain when his stars headed west to capitalise on their talents. Lobanovskiy followed suit and went to train the national side of the United Arab Emirates and subsequently Kuwait. But he couldn't resist the call of his former club. He returned in 1997, pulled it out of trouble and led it to yet more titles and cup victories in Ukraine, as well as to UEFA Champions League success in 1999, when Dynamo Kyiv faced Bayern Munchen in the semi-finals.
A grassroots club
Last autumn, Dynamo Kyiv celebrated its 80th birthday. It continues to be a regular feature in the Champions League. True to its traditions, it remains a grassroots club. Its youth academy has 1,500 pupils, all of whom enjoy the best possible care from doctors, teachers, physiotherapists and the 22 coaches. Dynamo Kyiv has named its training centre after its beloved coach. Established at the end of the 1950s, the current Valery Lobanovskiy Academy has been newly renovated: always looking to the future, at the end of the 1990s the club recognised that its centre was in need of more modern facilities. On 2 October 2003, the ultramodern complex was inaugurated in the presence of the Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma, and Igor Surkis, president of Dynamo Kyiv. With both grass and artificial pitches, a covered stand and excellent floodlighting, the young footballers enjoy some of the best training conditions around. Due to the often harsh Ukrainian climate, the pitches are even equipped with electric heating. A four-storey building which covers 3500m2 houses four changing rooms complete with massage room, a sauna, swimming pool and lounges. The first floor is home to the gym, the canteen and a classroom kitted out with audio-visual material used for tactical training. The complex provides accommodation for 54 boarders in 20 rooms, measuring 850m2 in total and equipped with every modern convenience. 50% of the academy's intake is originally from in and around the capital city. However, thanks to the boarding house, Dynamo Kyiv is also able to recruit young talent from across Ukraine and abroad.
Health takes top priority
At all levels, the emphasis is on pupils' health: all the young footballers are provided with both medical care and health advice. The aim is to produce well-rounded individuals, not just footballing prodigies. The pupils continue their schooling at the 175 school in Kiev. They live together, try their luck together and make use of the weights room and swimming pool together. It is this communal lifestyle which sparks healthy competition. Those who do not wish to enter professional football have the chance to blossom in other ways; their training does not narrow their future options.
During their courses, the young footballers are confronted with different training styles and regularly find themselves up against competitors of a higher standard. The number of training sessions depends on the age of the pupils. By way of example, the U17s have two 45-minute group training sessions per day. In addition, the coaches provide them with one hour of individual training, to help develop their physical capabilities, technique or tactical awareness. They, therefore, spend approximately three hours per day on the pitch.
The success stories
In 2007, the youths of Dynamo Kyiv recorded several victories in prestigious international and Ukrainian tournaments. Certain individuals stand out above the rest, such as goalkeeper Andrei Sytnykov and defenders Temour Partsvania (born in Tbilisi but now a Ukrainian national) and Alexey Prilepov (originally from Kharkov), all of whom are coached by Anatoly Bouznik. Dynamo Kyiv is marked by a burning desire to win: the Ukranian capital's home side wants to attract and produce the very best footballers. Youri Semin, head coach of the flagship team, does not hesitate to refer to the "golden Dynamo youth". He wants to revive the successes of the past both within Ukraine and on the European stage, and applauds projects by the Ukrainian Football Federation to limit the number of outside signings and introduce an obligatory percentage of youth players who must be trained by the top division clubs themselves. The aim is that every professional team be made up of between 70 and 80% homegrown players in the broadest sense.
Seven years and over
Dynamo Kyiv opens its doors to children from the age of seven. Tests are organised twice a year which include medical examinations, as the club places great emphasis on health. Throughout the young footballers' training, the club aims to develop what it calls an "awareness of football". To maintain standards across its teams, further tests are carried out, which become progressively more vigorous over the years.
The 7-9 year olds must demonstrate their agility, coordination, psychomotricity and speed;
The 1012 year olds undertake the same tests as well as ball control exercises;
The 13-15 year olds must have attended a sports school for three years, have participated in tournaments and possess the necessary physical capabilities;
The 16-17 year olds contest junior tournaments. They must be in excellent physical condition, highly skilled technically and have developed a certain level of tactical ability;
95% professional
95% of the players who successfully complete their training at the academy go on to compete in professional level championships, for Dynamo or elsewhere in the Ukraine, or indeed abroad. The Dynamo "A" team contains several home-grown talents, most of whom have reached international level: e.g. Alexander Shovkovski, Taras Lutsenko, Alexander Rybka, Vladislav Vaschuk, Sergiy Rebrov. Many others are coming up through the reserves, either with Dynamo-2 (first division) or Dynamo-3 (second division).
Pascale Pierard (uefadirect No 76 - August 2008)
